Current Event #5- "Obama: Swine flu a national emergency"

President Obama declared on Saturday that the swine flu outbreak has become a national emergency, and he has given his health chief, Kathleen Sebelius the power to let hospitals move emergency rooms off site to speed treatment and protect non-infected patients. In his announcement, President Obama said that rates of illness due to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic are continuing to rise, and may result in overburdening health care resources in some localities.

More than 1,000 people in the United States, including almost 100 children, have died from swine flu, and 46 states have widespread flu activity. So far however the vaccine for swine flu cannot be produced fast enough to obtain the needed number of doses to send out to health care providers. Many hospitals and doctors offices have been overwhelmed by the large number of H1N1 cases. Under the declaration signed by President Obama, hospitals are able to open drive through and drive up tents to test and treat swine flu patients. Hospitals are also able to modify patient rules under the declaration, for example they can require less information to be given during a chaotic time so that the patients can have quicker access to treatment.

I think this declaration will be very helpful in addressing the growing number of cases of the H1N1 virus. I especially think the idea of creating separate drive by tents for the treatment of swine flu is a good idea, because it will not only allow for quicker more direct treatment, but it will also prevent the virus from being spread to other patients in hospitals who are already sick and thus have weaker immune systems. Another provision of the declaration that will be helpful, is that it allows hospitals to set up these drive by tents without loosing the opportunity to be reimbursed for them.

It looks as though President Obama's declaration will provide the flexibility hospitals and health care providers need to effectively address the growing number of H1n1 cases, and will promote preventative measures.

"Obama: Swine flu a national emergency." usatoday.com. 25 Oct. 2009 <http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-10-24-Obama-swine-flu_N.htm>